I was a little hesitant (but also very excited…a farm!) to visit the working Perth Pork Products in Stratford. The farm raises a variety of pigs including Tamworth, Wild Boars, Ironage and Berkshire. The Tamworth pig is especially prized by chefs for it’s smoky taste. Many Stratford and Toronto chefs buy their pork from this farm.
As we muck around the farm, the air is fresh and it’s a beautiful day. The family comes out to greet us. Yes, this is a family farm and it goes back to 1850! Fred and Ingrid de Martines are orginailly from the Netherlands. The run the farm with the help of their children. Fred led us around the farm and we saw the indoor barn, feed crops and of course…pigs!
It’s clear that the pigs are well cared for and loved by the entire family. “They love to eat the walnuts,” Fred tells us fondly, gesturing to the wild boars. He tosses them a handful, and the boars run to the nuts and crunch contentedly. Awwww.
At the end, their daughter brought out a tiny baby pig to say hi. It was so cute! It’s a bit sad to think about it being eaten. To finish up the tour, we were given samples of sausage and boar sausage. I hate to say it…but it was delicious. The tour taught me a lot about pigs and it was cool to see where my food comes from.
Want to visit? You can arrange your own farm tour here. If you go to the farm, you can buy bacon and sausage on site from their tiny shop. Yum.
Perth Pork Products Ltd. de Martines Family Farm 4538 line 38, Sebringville, Ontario
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